Senate committee approves bills on county commissions term limits, school chaplains, more
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Senate Committee on Rules approved several pieces of legislation pertaining to county commissioner term limits, volunteer school chaplains, Everglades protection and more.
SB 438 – Term Limits
The county commissioner term limits bill, filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, limits county commissioners to eight years of time consecutive served.
The limits would apply to counties that do not already have defined term limits according to their county charter.
Counties that have term limits greater than eight years will be required to hold a 2024 ballot referendum where their residents will be able to decide if the community should adopt the new limits.
More restrictive term limits already set by county charters are not extended in the bill.
Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, filed the House version of the bill, which has already completed all of its committee stops in the lower body.
Three amendments, sponsored by Ingoglia, were passed during the committee stop relating to the requirements for the counties to hold votes on term limits.
SB 1044 – School Chaplains
Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, was the sponsor of the school chaplain legislation, which would allow for school districts and charter schools to opt into a volunteer school chaplain program.
Lawmakers and members of the public spoke for and against the legislation.
One member of the public who adopted a daughter expressed that having a school chaplain would help calm many of the stresses and anxieties that her child has in school.
Other speakers pointed to the lack of educational requirements that the bill lays out for the chaplains.
Rev. Joseph Paramore from the Florida Council of Churches said that the public school system is not the place for chaplains.
“To put it bluntly, government sanctioned and well-trained and educated chaplains are certainly appropriate in many settings,” he said. “However, […] we do not believe that the public school system is the place for that.”
SB 1364 – Everglades Protection Area
The legislation, filed by Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, requires that the state review any comprehensive plan that a county or municipality is expected to carry out in or within two miles of the Everglades Protection Area.
The Department of Environmental Protection would be tasked with determining whether the plan would adversely impact the Everglades Protection Area or the Everglades restoration and protection objectives in state law.
The department has 30 days after receipt of the plan or plan amendment to issue a written determination identifying any adverse impacts.
Calatayud also introduce one technicality amendment for the bill that passed the committee.
SB 1764 – Car Racing Penalties
Sen. Jason Pizzo’s, D-Hollywood, legislation redefines certain aspects of the state laws against highway racing, street takeovers and stunt driving.
According to the staff analyst, the bill defines the term “Coordinated street takeover” to mean 10 or more vehicles operated in an organized manner to effect a street takeover.
The legislation also increases the fines for illegal street racing activity, potentially costing individuals up to $1,000.
It also increases the penalty for a second violation within one year from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony. Subsequent violation would be subject to harsher penalties.
Those caught spectating the illegal activity may also find themselves paying up to $400 in fines.
“[…] Street takeovers are the new dangerous fad,” Pizzo said. “We need to get in front of it. It’s an incredibly coordinated effort, it’s incredibly dangerous.”
Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, commended Pizzo on the legislation, highlighting that the issue of street racing in his own district.
